ADVENT SPACE
Advent, along with Lent, is traditionally kept by the church as a penitential season as we prepare for the coming of Christ. Advent was introduced into the church’s calendar in the fourth century and was originally kept as a season of fasting and whilst we may no longer fast we are still encouraged to prepare ourselves as we wait in stillness in God’s presence for the Lord’s coming.
For some, stillness is very difficult; maybe because there always seems to be something that must be done. But maybe we find stillness difficult because we find it uncomfortable when our mind wanders in the silence to difficult, challenging or painful areas that we prefer to leave buried.
The season of Advent reminds us that as we wait in stillness, Jesus will come with us into those difficult, challenging or painful areas to heal, to comfort, to forgive, to restore, to strengthen and to bring courage. We need have no fear of the silence when we share it with Him. It will become for us a place of transformation.
Advent is a time where many of us find the pace of life more frenetic than usual. We may find it more difficult to take the time to be still on our own. For that reason at St Philleigh on Wedw 7th Dec between 7 and 8pm and at St Gerrans on Tuesday 13th Dec between 3 and 4pm we shall keep an ADVENT SPACE. This will be a time of quiet stillness for reflection, contemplation, reading, thinking, praying, waiting in God’s presence-or just doing nothing. Please come…to either or both.
(A final thought..set to ‘As with gladness men of old’.)
As with madness we prepare
For this festive time of year
As we rush and count the days
Advent passes in a haze
So may our feet take us to,
Places where we will meet you.
ST GERRANS CHURCH
DECEMBER 2011
YOU MAY WISH TO CONTACT
Priest in Charge Revd Jill Edwards 01872 580117
Churchwarden Jenny Pascoe-Price 01872 580281
Churchwarden Anne Wesley 01872 580043
Verger Pat Chaffin 01872 580854
Pew News Michael Whittall 01872 580688
DECEMBER DATES
1 Thu
10.00am Holy Communion Gerrans, Jill
7.30pm Memorial Hall Committee, Hall
2 Fri
10.30-12.30 Portscatho Village Market, Hall
3 Sat
10.30-12.30 Heritage Centre open for Christmas Cards and Gifts, Heritage Centre
4 Sun
The Second Sunday of Advent
10.00am CW Holy Communion Jill
Traidcraft Stall
6.00pm Christingle Jill
5 Mon
6.45 pm Cluster choir practice, Gerrans
6 Tue
3.00pm Prayer Group Gerrans
7.30pm Gerrans Parish Council, Hall
7 Wed
7.15pm WI Christmas Meeting Hall
7-8.00pm Advent Space Philleigh
8 Thu
10.00am Holy Communion Gerrans
9 Fri
2.00pm Gerrans School PTA Xmas Fayre, School
7.30pm Big Christmas Sing for Christian Aid, Truro Cathedral
10 Sat
10.30-12.30 Heritage Centre open for Christmas Cards and Gifts, Heritage Centre
11.30am Wedding, Knowles-Eyers Gerrans
11 Sun The Third Sunday of Advent
10.00am Matins Gerrans, Michael
4.00pm Messy Church – Nativity Party Jill
Dress in Nativity Clothes
6.00pm NO Evening Service Gerrans
6.00pm Nine Lessons and Carols + Roseland Churches Choir, Ruan Lanihorne
12 Mon
6.00pm School Nativity Play Church
6.45pm Cluster choir practice Veryan
13 Tue
2-3.00pm Advent Space, Gerrans
14 Wed
7.00pm Carols for Crisis with St Anthony Noyse and Roseland Community Choir, Gerrans
7.30pm Old Cornwall Society
Reminiscences of Early Travellers to Cornwall, Hall
15 Thu
10.00am Holy Communion Gerrans
NO Charity Lunch
1.30pm Short Carol Service, Eshcol
16 Fri
10.30-12.30 Portscatho Village Market, Hall
17 Sat
10.30-12.00 St Anthony’s Noyse Coffee Morning, Hall
18 Sun
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
10.00am CW Holy Communion, Gerrans, Jill
5.00pm Lighting of Christmas Tree, Square
6.00pm No Evening Service, Gerrans
6.00pm Christmas Play & Carols, Veryan
+ Roseland Churches Choir
19 Mon
NO Cluster choir practice
7.30pm Christmas Whist Drive, Hall
20 Tue
7.00pm Nine Lessons & Carols St Just
21 Wed
4-6.00pm Carols & Mince Pies, United Church
22 Thu
10.00am Holy Communion, Gerrans
23 Fri
24 Sat Christmas Eve
4.00pm Crib Service
11.30pm Midnight Communion, Jean Rolt
25 Sun Christmas Day
10.00am Christmas Day Communion Gerrans, Jill
6.00pm NO Evening Service Gerrans
26 Mon
27 Tue
? Concert with Susan Raven, Gerrans Church
Donations for St Petroc’s and Animal Charity
28 Wed
6.00pm Carols for Shelterbox, Philleigh
29 Thu
10.00am NO Communion Service, Gerrans
30 Fri
31 Sat
January
1 Sun
First Sunday of Christmas
10.00am United Benefice Communion, ,Jill Gerrans
6.00pm NO Evening Service, Gerrans
6.00pm Cantabulous choir £6 followed by refreshments Philleigh Church
6.00pm Fireworks Display Lugger
(Weather permitting)
